Our Proposal for the National Electoral Climate Preparedness Protocol (NECPP) was adopted into the zonal Constitutional Amendment Public Hearing agenda. This is part of Connected Advocacy’s commitment to Integrating Climate Resilience into Nigeria’s Electoral System.
As climate change intensifies across Nigeria, it is no longer a distant environmental challenge—it is now a direct threat to the very foundation of our democracy. From submerged polling units in Bayelsa to heatwave-induced voter turnout drops in the North, Nigeria’s electoral process is under siege by climate-induced disruptions. The time to act is now, and the proposal for the National Electoral Climate Preparedness Protocol (NECPP)—championed by Connected Advocacy—offers a bold, necessary path forward.
The recent proposal to adopt climate resilience into the Constitutional Amendment Bill is not only timely but vital for preserving Nigeria’s democratic integrity. Elections, by their nature, require stability, accessibility, and legitimacy. Yet recurrent flooding, desert encroachment, and population displacement have made it increasingly difficult to guarantee those conditions across the country. Without targeted reform, entire regions may be disenfranchised—not by political actors, but by nature itself.
The NECPP puts forth a strategic framework to integrate climate resilience into our electoral laws and systems. It proposes legislative amendments that mandate climate risk assessments in election planning, the establishment of inter-agency coordination platforms between INEC, NEMA, and climate agencies, and the rollout of voter preparedness strategies that prioritize displaced and disaster-prone populations.
This is not just administrative tinkering—it is a constitutional safeguard. It places climate adaptation at the heart of our electoral planning, ensuring that no Nigerian loses their right to vote due to flooding, displacement, or infrastructure collapse. It ensures equity: that remote or marginalized communities already burdened by climate vulnerability are not further excluded from political participation.
Importantly, this proposal redefines national preparedness by moving beyond emergency response to institutional resilience. It doesn’t wait for disasters to happen before scrambling for solutions. It anticipates and prepares. It demands climate-informed siting of polling units, emergency election logistics, and climate-sensitive voter education—all of which are glaringly absent in Nigeria’s current electoral playbook.
Skeptics may argue that the constitutional amendment process is slow or that INEC is already overstretched. But these excuses ignore the high cost of inaction. Climate disruption is no longer an episodic event—it’s the new normal. And unless we future-proof our democracy, elections in Nigeria will become less inclusive, less credible, and more chaotic.
Integrating the NECPP into the Constitutional Amendment Bill sends a clear message: that Nigeria values its citizens’ right to vote under all circumstances, including during a climate crisis. It is a proactive move toward strengthening democracy and modernizing institutions. It also sets a regional example that other West African countries, many facing similar climate challenges, can follow.
Connected Advocacy’s proposal is not just a policy idea—it is a moral and democratic imperative. The constitution must evolve to meet the realities of a warming planet. The NECPP is how we ensure that, rain or shine, flood or drought, democracy endures.
Let us not wait until climate change cancels an election. Let us lead with vision, legislate with courage, and #VoteforClimateResilienceNow.
